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Minnesota Vikings: Midseason report card

By Ben Goesslingbgoessling@pioneerpress.com

Posted:
10/26/2012 12:01:00 AM CDT

Updated:
10/28/2012 09:53:22 PM CDT

(Pioneer Press: Sherri LaRose-Chiglo)

Halfway though the 2012 season, the Vikings sit as one of the NFL's surprise teams with a 5-3 record. They have the NFC's fifth-best record and have turned one of the league's worst defenses into a respectable unit that has weathered the few injuries the team has faced.

Two losses in the past three games have unearthed a few unsettling trends, particularly the struggles of second-year quarterback Christian Ponder. And as the Vikings face a daunting second-half schedule, they will have to improve in several areas to make a push for their first playoff berth since the 2009 season.

A soft schedule has helped (the Vikings' eight opponents have a combined .453 winning percentage). So has five of the first eight games coming at home, where the Vikings are 4-1.

Still, this team finished 3-13 last season. At the beginning of this season, few fans would have argued with almost doubling that victory total by midseason, so grading them needs to take that into account. Even a 3-5 second half and an 8-8 finish would be real progress. And if the Vikings can steal a couple wins on the road, they could be in position for the playoffs.

Overall Grade: B+

QUARTERBACK

Ponder began the season earning plaudits for his careful, efficient play. Former NFL MVP Rich Gannon called him the league's most improved player in early October, as Ponder took a passer rating near 100 through the first quarter of the year.

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But his mistake-filled play in the next four games was reminiscent of his rookie season. He turned the ball over eight times in the Vikings' last four games, including his first seven interceptions of the season. He hasn't been able to beat defenses using eight- and nine-man fronts to stop Adrian Peterson.

In the second half, Ponder needs to throw better on the run, make plays downfield and regain the poise he showed early in the season. It will be key for the Vikings as they determine whether Ponder is the long-term answer at the position.

Grade: C

RUNNING BACK

Adrian Peterson has made such an emphatic return from knee surgery that it's easy to forget he was on an operating table 10 months ago. He has run for 775 yards, caught another 23 passes and is on pace for the second-biggest rushing and receiving workload of his career.

That the Vikings have been so comfortable relying on Peterson, even as he grapples with an ankle injury, speaks to the sheer force with which he goes about his work. He has been cutting more authoritatively each week as he gets closer to a full recovery, as proven by the 64-yard touchdown run he broke Thursday, Oct. 25, against Tampa Bay.

Jerome Felton has carved out a role as an effective lead blocker, so much so that the Vikings have been effective even without their planned two-tight-end set of Kyle Rudolph and John Carlson. The only issue has been ball security; Peterson and Toby Gerhart each has fumbled two times, losing a combined three.

Grade: A-

OFFENSIVE LINE

First-round pick Matt Kalil has been a solid left tackle, allowing only one sack and 11 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. He has faced Robert Mathis, Justin Smith, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Calais Campbell and held all four premier pass rushers without a sack.

Kalil could improve as a run blocker, but as a unit, the Vikings have been effective at opening holes for Peterson. The big area of concern, as a whole, is pass protection.

Ponder has been sacked 6.8 percent of the times he has dropped back, 12th-most in the league, and has made several of his worst throws while evading sacks. Right tackle Phil Loadholt has been responsible for three sacks and 19 combined pressures.

Grade: B-

TIGHT END

In his second season, Rudolph has emerged as the Vikings' top red-zone threat. He has scored five touchdowns, ranks second on the team with 27 receptions and has become one of Ponder's favorite receivers (Percy Harvin is the only receiver targeted more often).

But Carlson, who was signed to a five-year, $25 million deal in the offseason, has been persona non grata in the Vikings' offense. He has been targeted just six times, has three catches and missed Thursday's game with a concussion.

Rhett Ellison, who has found a role as a blocking tight end, has played only 26 fewer snaps than Carlson.

Grade: B

WIDE RECEIVERS

The main reason -- if not the only reason -- the group even has a passing grade is Percy Harvin. His unusual talents have been on full display in an MVP-caliber start to the season. Harvin leads the league with 60 receptions, is second in yards (despite catching most of his passes on screens) and is first in yards after the catch.

The problem is, the Vikings have few reliable receivers outside of Harvin.

Jerome Simpson's impact has been muted because of a suspension and then a lower-back injury that effectively took him out of two games after he returned. Michael Jenkins isn't much more than a possession receiver, and Ponder has only looked to Devin Aromashodu 14 times.

If the Vikings had more options, they could exploit the deep middle of the field when the defense moves a safety into the box. But outside of Harvin, the group has shown little.

Grade: C

DEFENSIVE LINE

Already the Vikings' strongest unit on defense entering the season, the line has improved with the emergence of nose tackle Letroy Guion and the growth of Everson Griffen as a situational pass rusher.

Linemen have 17 of the Vikings' 23 sacks -- led by Jared Allen's seven -- and the group has taken plenty of stress off defensive coordinator Alan Williams with its ability to get to the quarterback. That has meant the Vikings have rarely had to blitz, which has reduced stress on a young secondary.

Until the last two games, the group has played sound run defense, as well.

Grade: A

LINEBACKER

Chad Greenway has been burned in pass coverage the past two games, but has largely shown improvement there after struggling in 2011. The big revelation has been Jasper Brinkley, who became the' middle linebacker in nickel coverage when Erin Henderson sustained a concussion early this year and hasn't given the job back.

Brinkley has been giving up catches, but has largely prevented them from turning into big plays. Henderson has probably been the Vikings' best linebacker against the run, while giving way to Brinkley in many passing situations. Backup Marvin Mitchell has been limited by a calf strain and has only played four games.

Grade: B

DEFENSIVE BACK

When the Vikings traded back into the first round to take Harrison Smith with the 29th overall pick in April, they received some criticism for reaching with the Notre Dame safety. Instead, Smith has turned himself into a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate with his physical play and coverage instincts.

He doesn't get burned for big plays, he knocked a would-be touchdown loose from Detroit's Calvin Johnson and he ran an interception back for a touchdown against Arizona.

On the other side of the age spectrum, 35-year-old cornerback Antoine Winfield is playing some of his finest football in years. He has two interceptions, has broken up seven more and has played on the corner and in the slot.

Cornerback Chris Cook had done a solid job in assignments against many teams' No. 1 receivers; now he likely will miss the rest of the regular season with a broken arm. Jamarca Sanford has been impressive filling in for Mistral Raymond at safety.

Overall, the Vikings have allowed just three pass plays of more than 40 yards.

Grade: B+

SPECIAL TEAMS

The same week Harvin had a 105-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, Marcus Sherels scored a punt-return touchdown against Detroit.

Blair Walsh has effectively squelched the possibility of teams breaking big kick returns on the Vikings, having booted all but 11 of his kickoffs into the end zone. He also is 17 for 18 on field goal attempts.

And while Chris Kluwe has struggled in the past two games, he is averaging 43.8 yards per punt.

Grade: A-

COACHING

Head coach Leslie Frazier has seemingly pushed the right buttons with this group, coaxing fundamentally sound football out of his defense and maintaining harmony in the locker room.

Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave's play calling has been puzzling at times; the Vikings struggled in the red zone in Washington and have occasionally lapsed into the ultraconservative approach used by Brad Childress. But Musgrave has found some creative ways to get Harvin the ball, and the Vikings' defense has improved under first-year coordinator Williams.

Grade: B+

FRONT OFFICE

It's tough to argue with the early returns on general manager Rick Spielman's 2012 draft; Kalil and Smith look like long-term fixtures, and Josh Robinson has contributed in the secondary.

But Spielman's free-agent signings have met with tepid results. Simpson and Carlson have yet to shore up the passing attack, and Mitchell hasn't played much. Felton and offensive guard Geoff Schwartz look like Spielman's best free-agent pickups. Still, for a team trying to develop young players, Spielman has put the Vikings in a solid position.